Friday, December 10, 2010

Meet SHERRY GLOAG-an author from the UK

Somehow, I won a copy of THE BRAT--I don't remember how, but I'm very happy I did. At the time I didn't know Sherry, and certainly didn't know about her book, either.

Who is Sherry Gloag? She is a very talented author who also has a desire to review other authors' books. As a transplanted Scot, she has the good fortune to live in the beautiful coastal countryside of Norfolk, England. The garden-like area surrounding her home is her "thinking space," and I can imagine just how beautiful it is.
Sherry has experienced wonderful success in the U.S. with her writing. Go to her blog and you will read the high praise many reviewers have given her for THE BRAT.

In a nutshell, this book is about a young author, Gina Williams, who writes under an assumed name. She is the victim of childhood abuse by the mother of Ben Kouvaris who owns her publishing company. But Ben needs something else from Gina which makes her very wary of this man.
Take my word for it--THE BRAT is riveting, and I recommend it as an excellent read.
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Sherry shares one of her favorite holiday recipes with us. I will warn you--you must convert the 185 degrees Centigrade to Fahrenheit if you are a U.S. citizen and don't know anything about the metric system!
Your turn, Sherry!
**************
Thank you, Celia--
While a recipe for an eggless fruit cake may seem a bit mundane during the holiday, festive season, once I came across the recipe, I chose to use it for my Christmas cakes ever since.

Ingredients
2 cups self raising flour
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1/2 level teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup butter
3/4 cup dried mixed fruit
1/2 cup sugar
12 tablespoons hot water
1/2 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
flaked almonds

Method
- Put the mixed spice, nutmeg, butter, dried mixed fruit, sugar and water into a saucepan.
- Place the over a medium heat and stir the mixture until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.
- Bring to the boil and then simmer for 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and cool until lukewarm.
- Add the bicarbonate of soda and stir.
- Put the flour into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre of it.
- Pour the lukewarm mixture into this.
- Mix well and pour into a greased cake tin.
- Smooth the top of the mixture and sprinkle with a few flaked almonds.
- Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 1 hour 15 minutes at 185 degrees centigrade.
- Turn onto a wire rack to cool.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Read on to discover out what problems face Gina and Ben.
Gina Williams has a secret and prays it is buried with her childhood persecutor, Anna Kouvaris, as discovery will ruin her reputation as a famous children’s author. She soon discovers the son, Ben Kouvaris, new owner of her publishing company, has uncovered her past and is making demands. Will he ruin her career if she doesn’t comply?
Ben Kouvaris is blown away by the unknown beauty at his estranged mother's funeral, and when his father demands he marry, immediately, to secure the family business, he knows just who he wants as his temporary bride. But can Ben persuade Gina to trust him?

You can find out more at The Wild Rose Press = http://www.thewildrosepress.com/sherry-gloag-m-862.html
Or visit my website and enjoy some of my other, short, stories = http://www.sherrygloag.com/
Or visit my blog and read about some wonderful guests who have joined me there = http://sherrygloagtheheartofromance.blogspot.com/

11 comments:

  1. Hmm...that fruitcake recipe might ACTUALLY be edible! ;-)

    I'll have to try it.

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  2. MAEVE--Yes, indeed, except I am a fruitcake lover, even the kind you buy in a round tin from Wal-Mart! Every fruitcake has some merit--I know, I'm weird. Merry Christmas, my dear. Celia

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  3. Maeve :-) are you saying I'd offer up a non-edible fruitcake? rofl.. (well if I made it it might be,) but I have been known to have success with it!
    Thanks for coming by

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  4. Celia, Thank you so much for having me here today and for your kind words. I'm delighted you liked The Brat.
    I love fruit cake too. Don't know where he bought it, but last year my brother gave us a fruit cake, the likes of which I've never had before - or since. It was scrumptuous. :-)

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  5. Thank you for the recipe, it sounds super easy and yummy--I loved dried fruit. GOod luck with your release--enjoyed the blurb.

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  6. I'm not a fruitcake lover but I'll be sure to pass it on to a good friend who is. Thanks
    Sherry I am very intrigued with yout book, The Brat. I thought from the title it would be a YA book. Is this something safe my bookworm 16 yr old daughter would enjoy?
    Thanks for the great blogpost Dani & Sherry
    Happy Holidays!

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  7. Thank you for your good wishes Danielle, I hope you enjoy the cake, too. Thanks for coming by.

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  8. Adeele, The Brat is definiely NOT YA. It is not offensive but the backplot deals with some fairly dark issues.
    To help you make up your mind I am directing you to two pages online...

    http://firepages.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/the-brat-by-sherry-gloag/
    &
    http://firepages.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/the-brat-defining-a-new-romance/

    I hope these help. Thank you for coming by and your interest in The Brat.

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  9. PS I'm sorry about the typo mistake on your name Adelle

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  10. Love the idea of an eggless fruitcake, Sherry, and congrats on your success with The Brat.

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  11. :-) Thanks Megan, I appreciate your support.

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